In his novel "An American Tragedy", Theodore Dreiser presents characters with various pychological disorders. This research paper will focus on the narcissism of selected characters in that novel. Firstly, the term narcissism and typical symptoms will be explained. Secondly, the most important characters in the novel will be analysed. Lastly, I will try to explain possible reasons for Dreiser's viewpoints and describe his social background.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. An Explanation of the Term Narcissism
A. The Origin of The Term
B. The Symptoms Of Narcissism
C. The Cause Of Narcissism
III. Main Part: Narcissim in Theodore Dreiser’s Novel An American Tragedy
A. Cases Of Narcissism: Hortense Briggs, Sondra Finchley, Gilbert Griffiths
B. Probable Cases Of Narcissism: Clyde Griffiths, Clyde`s parents, Reverendt McMillan
C. No Narcissism: Roberta Alden, District Attorney Mason
IV. Summary
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This research paper examines the psychological manifestation of narcissism among the primary characters in Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy," while exploring the author's own social background and potential motivations for his portrayal of these personality disorders.
- Analysis of the clinical definition and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder.
- Evaluation of clear and probable manifestations of narcissism in characters like Hortense Briggs, Sondra Finchley, and Clyde Griffiths.
- Contrasting characters who lack narcissistic traits, such as Roberta Alden and District Attorney Mason.
- Investigation into Dreiser's "socialdarwinistic" worldview and its impact on the narrative structure.
Excerpt from the Book
Hortense Briggs
The character Hortense Briggs shows nearly all symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, and Dreiser even mentions that she "[. . .] narcisisstically painted her flight." (111; bk. 1, ch. 15). The author often decribes how Hortense admires herself: "[. . .] she looked in every mirror, admiring her eyes, her hair, her neck, her hands, her figure [. . .]" (Dreiser 77; bk. 1, ch. 11). She always wants to attract attention because of her exhibitionistic nature and regards everyone, even her friend Greta, as her opponent (Dreiser 71; bk. 1, ch. 11).
On her first date with Clyde, Dreiser already makes clear that she does not really care for Clyde and that she feels superior to him, "Now, aintcha glad? Dontcha think I’m pretty nice to you, disappointin’ a good-lookin’ fella like Charly for you?" (80; bk.1, ch. 12). She manages to impress Clyde not just a little by demonstrating her power over other men. On page 83, book 1, chapter 12, she says that she "tied a can to them" (to other men) and even boasts about her "control" over Mr. Beck, the head of her department.
In fact, she has "vainglorious" (Dreiser 103, bk. 1, ch. 14) fantasies of herself, and the only things for which she feels true desire are clothes and other accessoires that she could use to emphasize her beauty. When she sees a special coat in one of the shops in Kansas city, she craves more for that coat than for anything else (Dreiser 101-05, bk. 1, ch. 14). She imagines that when she had that coat to wear, she would be the "[. . .] smartest dressed girl in Kansas City beyond the shadow of a doubt." (Dreiser 106; bk. 1, ch. 14), which is a quite immature fantasy.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's scope, aiming to analyze psychological disorders within Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy."
II. An Explanation of the Term Narcissism: This section provides the foundational definitions, including the mythic origins, psychological symptoms, and developmental causes of narcissism.
III. Main Part: Narcissim in Theodore Dreiser’s Novel An American Tragedy: This core section evaluates specific characters, categorizing them into those displaying clear narcissism, those showing probable traits, and those who demonstrate genuine empathy instead.
IV. Summary: This concluding chapter interprets Dreiser's thematic focus, linking his social-Darwinist perspective and his own biography to the character development found within the novel.
Keywords
Narcissism, Theodore Dreiser, An American Tragedy, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Psychological Disorders, Empathy, Social Darwinism, Character Analysis, Hortense Briggs, Sondra Finchley, Clyde Griffiths, Roberta Alden, Religious Narcissism, Literature, Psychoanalysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper focuses on the identification and analysis of narcissism as a personality disorder among the key characters in Theodore Dreiser’s novel "An American Tragedy."
What are the central themes covered in the work?
The work covers themes of clinical narcissism, the role of empathy in character development, the influence of social-Darwinist viewpoints, and the impact of parental and societal upbringing on personality.
What is the main goal or research question?
The goal is to determine which characters manifest narcissistic personality disorder and to explain how Dreiser’s own psychological background and worldview shaped these characterizations.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The study utilizes a literary analysis approach, integrating psychological theories on narcissism—referencing authors like Grunberger and Comer—to interpret character behavior within the narrative.
What is addressed in the main part of the paper?
The main part categorizes characters into three groups: those with clear narcissistic traits, those with probable narcissistic tendencies, and those who display opposing characteristics like empathy and emotional depth.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as narcissism, psychological disorder, social Darwinism, empathy, and character analysis.
How is "religious narcissism" applied in the case of Reverendt McMillan?
The paper argues that McMillan's seemingly altruistic desire to "clean" Clyde's soul is actually a form of religious narcissism, where the Reverend prioritizes his own self-image and rigid moral code over genuine compassion for the individual.
What is the significance of the distinction between Roberta Alden and the narcissistic characters?
Roberta serves as a narrative foil; despite her own flaws and dependencies, her capacity for empathy and her selfless concern for her family clearly differentiate her from the narcissistic characters who prioritize their own ego.
- Quote paper
- M. A. Oliver Steinert-Lieschied (Author), 2003, Narcissism in Dreisers "An American Tragedy", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/145302
